Waterproof fabric



G. B. SMITH.

WATERPROOF FABRIC APPLICATION mm 020.11. 1919.

1 64,818. Pmented Jan. 4, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

I GOOLDWIN B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATERPROOF FABRIC.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, Gooowm B. SMITH, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvanla, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWaterproof Fabrics, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to a water-proof fabric.

As is well known, certain articles of apparel, such as baby pants ordiapers, and sanitary aprons and knickers for women, are

made free from rubber dam. This dam embodies closely woven fabric,having one side thereof coated with rubber.

The disadvantage of using ordinary rubber dam, for these purposes, isthat, by the same becoming wet, the rubbercoating is injured, andfrequently peels or drops ofl". Further, the rubber dam does notordinarily possess a desired degree of softness and flexibility, wherebyit rubs or chafes soft skin, such as a babys skin.

It has been proposed to use a sheet of rubber without the fabricbacking, but this is disadvantageous, inasmuch as the rubber sheetreadily tears and will not give the desired wear, when made suitablythin, to impart to it the desired flexibility and softness. I

In accordance with my invention, I produce a thin and highly flexiblefabric, which is smooth, upon bothsides, and is sufficiently tough orstrong to withstand the wear to WhlCh it is ordinarily subjected.

My improved fabric embodies a body or sheet of rubber, having thethickness of the combined thicknesses of the fabric backing and rubbercoating of ordinary rubber dam, in which sheet is completely embedded anopen fabric, serving to reinforce and strengthen the same.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same.

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a fabric embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a very muchenlarged section through the fabric, a

Fig. 3is a transverse section through the fabric and apparatus forproducing the same, and, 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the reinforcing fabric.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

. Application filed December 11, 1919. SeriaLNo. 343,994.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates an open woven reinforcingfabric, such as a net, having relatively large openings or voids 6,between the transverse portions 7 \Vhrle I prefer to employ areinforcing fabric of this type, yet the invention is not necessarilyrestrlcted to the same, as I may employ any suitable open fabric havingsurfaces of the rolls 9, forming sheets or films'lO thereon. Thesesheets or films are applied by the rolls to the opposite sides of theopen fabric 5, and these sheets are pressed inwardly by the rolls sothat the material of the sheets passesthrough the voids 6, and the twosheets become bonded into an integral sheet. The open reinforcing fabric5 is wholly embedded within the rubber sheet, whereby both sides of thesheet are smooth, but this reinforcing fabric imparts to the product thedesired toughness and durability. The product thus obtained embodies asheet of rubber having the thickness of the entire fabric, and thecombined thicknesses of the fabric and rubber found in ordinary rubberdamJ However, the

completed product need be no thicker than ordinary rubber dam.

If necessary or desired, the fabric may be passed through the rolls anynumber of -times, or the fabric may be dipped into a same, and thatvarious changes in the shape,

' size, and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without'departingfrom the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim r A thin and highly flexiblefabric for us in baby pants or like articles of apparel, said fabrichaving substantially the thickness 'of ordinary rubber dam, said fabriccomprising a sheet of rubber, and a relatively non-elastic openreinforcing fabric ness' and serving to render the same relaembedded inthe rubber sheet between its tiveiy non-elastic. 10-

opposite faces, said open fabric being per- In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature manently provided with relatively large in presence of twowitnesses.

voids to permit of the passage therethrough 4 GOODWIN B. SMITH.

of thematerial of the rubber sheet, the open Witnesses:

reinforcing fabric strengthening the com- MARGARET M. MCNULTY,

pleted fabric without increasing its thick HELEN A. CLEMENTB;

